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Updated: Jul 20, 2025
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Cf-PWV to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity is associated with intracranial artery calcification in acute stroke patients
Xuelong Li1, Heng Du1, Xianliang Li2
1Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Insights
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) indicates arterial stiffness. Higher baPWV correlates with increased intracranial artery calcification (IAC) in acute ischemic stroke patients, suggesting IAC severity reflects systemic arterial stiffness.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Intracranial artery calcification (IAC) is linked to cerebrovascular disease.
- Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) noninvasively assesses peripheral arterial stiffness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between baPWV and the presence/degree of IAC in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- 143 ischemic stroke patients underwent head CT for IAC assessment.
- Bilateral brachial and posterior tibial pulse waveforms and BP were measured using oscillometry.
- Multiple logistic regression analyzed the relationship between baPWV and IAC.
Main Results:
- Higher IAC prevalence and severity were observed with increasing baPWV quartiles (P < 0.001).
- The top baPWV quartile showed significantly higher odds of IAC severity (OR 1.61, P=0.025) after adjusting for age and hypertension.
Conclusions:
- Arterial stiffness measured by baPWV is positively associated with IAC degree in acute ischemic stroke.
- IAC severity may serve as a marker for peripheral or systemic arterial stiffness.
Background:
Intracranial artery calcification (IAC) is closely associated with cerebrovascular disease. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a noninvasive method for estimating arterial stiffness, which reflects the stiffness of peripheral arteries. This study aimed to examine the association of baPWV with the presence and degree of IAC in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Methods:
A total of 143 ischemic stroke subjects were recruited. A head computed tomography (CT) scan was used to assess the presence and severity of IAC. The oscillometric method was used to simultaneously measure bilateral brachial and posterior tibial arterial pulse waveforms and arterial BP. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent relationship between baPWV and IAC.
Results:
143 subjects were included in this study. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population were classified according to the baPWV quartile. A higher prevalence of IAC was noted across increasing baPWV quartiles (Q1: 53 %, Q2: 69 %, Q3: 86 %, Q4: 94 %, P < 0.001). IAC scores were also increased with elevated ccPWV values (1.60 ± 1.71; 2.56 ± 1.99; 3.44 ± 1.91; 4.64 ± 1.58. P < 0.001). After an additional adjustment for age and hypertension, the odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) for the IAC scores was 1.61 (1.06-2.45; P = 0.025) in the top quartile of baPWV compared with those in the lowest quartile.
Conclusions:
Arterial stiffness as defined by baPWV was positively associated with the degree of IAC in patients with acute ischemic stroke, suggesting the severity of IAC may also be a marker of peripheral or systemic arterial stiffness.
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